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….
"I don't object to you speaking with my mother," I clarified my position. "I object to you bursting into Odin's bedchamber while she is there. But at any other time, be my guest."
"Thank you," Sif muttered confusedly, and the looks of the others expressed considerable bewilderment.
"You're welcome," I nodded in response. "And now, if that is all…" I fell silent, inviting them to speak.
"Um… We are grateful for your time… Your Majesty," Volstagg bowed awkwardly, starting to nudge his friends toward the exit.
Patiently waiting until the whole stunned foursome disappeared, I caught Laura's eye and tried to convey with my face just how sad all this was. The girl seemed to understand.
I was actually curious when these geniuses would realize that Frigga never leaves Odin's bedside.
I wasn't going to underestimate the woman, if she wants to, she can talk to anyone without getting out of her chair.
However, there was a big question in all this, namely, would she want to talk to Thor's friends? The former Loki's memory suggested that it was more likely "no" than "yes."
And naturally, as soon as this is discovered, I will be appointed the guilty party again, you know, the vile deceiver and all that, but hey, who would have doubted it?
Right, where was I? Ah yes, the elimination of Laufey…
…
A little later. In the palace corridors.
Lady Sif walked irritably through the sleeping wing of the palace, intending to seek the Queen in her chambers. Anger seethed in the goddess's soul.
Anger at Thor for climbing in to save that ingrate; at her combat friends who almost gagged her when she wanted to speak her mind; and, of course, at the new "King," sitting smugly on Odin's Throne and playing the victim.
Yet for all that, he didn't lift a finger to return his brother, hiding behind traditions and unwritten rules!
But Thor didn't give a damn about any of that to go after Loki! And this is his gratitude?!
Subconscious thoughts and a lonely voice timidly asking why the God of Magic needed saving at all were completely ignored by the extremely nervous goddess.
Well, at least the "King" graciously permitted an audience with Lady Frigga. A big mistake on his part, Mother will surely be able to set Loki's brains straight and force him to bring Thor back!
True, she had to argue a bit with her friends, who unanimously claimed that since Loki allowed the visit, there would be no sense in it, and that's if they were lucky, otherwise it might turn out worse.
But Sif stood her ground, and eventually, they gave up, muttering something like "well, maybe a woman will understand a woman better," as if some special understanding was required here. But what can you expect from them?
However, plans for an immediate conversation had to be sharply changed. Passing by the guest chambers, the goddess heard Frigga's voice, and she was clearly not alone but talking to someone.
Eavesdropping was unworthy of a warrior, but… since they hadn't activated the defense system, nothing terrible, right?
The fact that only members of the royal family could enter this wing of the palace without permission went unnoticed by her.
And the girl turned into hearing.
"…So how did it happen that mortals began to travel with my son?"
Mortals?! In Asgard? Sif had to try hard not to betray herself with a surprised exclamation.
"The Master saved me from a fate much worse than death," a calm, soft voice answered, "therefore, serving him is my duty, for my life now belongs to him."
Loki saved someone? Not that it was something extraordinary, but right now Sif was very angry at the second prince and would have believed in any of his sins and dirty tricks with much greater enthusiasm than in a heroic deed.
"And he accepted your service?" Frigga was surprised.
"Not immediately," the respondent's voice trembled slightly, "but… yes. Although now I realize he is unlikely to ever have a need for it."
"And how quickly did he agree?" Frigga's voice sounded increasingly interested.
"I am not sure… a minute or two…"
"Really? Amazing," Odin's wife pondered something. "And you?"
"My case is somewhat similar to Yuriko's situation," another female voice answered. "I was a research scientist, a geneticist. And because of my work…" the respondent hesitated, "I became a prisoner of people who wanted to use my knowledge to create a sapient weapon. Loki pulled me and Laura out of captivity and offered his help."
Loki did what?! The warrior froze like a stone statue.
"Offered?" Frigga was genuinely surprised too. "Himself?"
"Yes," bewilderment was heard in the voice, "as I understand it, he obtained information about Laura and me from interrogating Yuriko's captor, simultaneously preventing the start of a world war…" the speaker hesitated again.
"Is something wrong?" Frigga asked gently.
"Well… he said he did it for the potatoes."
"For… potatoes?" Sif fully shared the Queen's surprise. She knew what a "potato" was, but performing deeds seemingly worthy of skaldic sagas for its sake?
"Yes. According to him, it doesn't grow in Asgard, and since he loves it very much, he couldn't allow the destruction of Earth and humanity."
"That is Loki all over," the goddess laughed. "He will never admit that he did something at the behest of his soul, inventing a whole bunch of reasons instead. He has been like this since childhood. Although I am immensely surprised by his behavior."
"Surprised?" asked again… it seems she was named Yuriko… strange name.
"Yes. In more than a thousand years, Loki has not acquired an inner circle, always preferring books or Thor's company. And it is even more strange that after helping you, he stayed instead of moving on," now Frigga's voice acquired some interested notes.
"This is… interesting. Although, of course, I am especially amazed by how he treats this girl, your daughter, as I understand it," she clearly addressed one of the interlocutors.
"My youngest son has always shunned children, yet he allows her to follow him all over the palace. Amazing."
"Laura treats him strangely too," the second woman, whose name hadn't sounded yet, admitted awkwardly.
"But I think it's explainable, after all, he is the first man who… well… doesn't perceive her as a thing and a test subject."
"You don't mean to say?.." the Queen's voice trembled with concern.
"Yes, the sapient weapon I was working on was Laura. She is a mutant with the ability to regenerate. People from… the very top wanted to make her the perfect soldier, and in the future, to set up the production of clones as soon as the training methodology was worked out," the speaker's voice trembled, betraying serious tension and how personal the narrated facts were for her.
Deciding that listening further would be completely indecent, Sif knocked on the door.
….
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